[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SAN ANTONIO'S CITY PUBLIC SERVICE WINS COVETED EISENHOWER AWARD FOR 
                             SMALL BUSINESS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 13, 2000

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, we all know the importance of small 
business to our economies and local communities. I am proud today to 
let my colleagues know that our municipally owned utility, City Public 
Service of San Antonio, TX (CPS), has put words into action in its 
efforts to increase small business participation. In recognition of 
these efforts, CPS this week is receiving the coveted Dwight D. 
Eisenhower Award for Excellence from the United States Small Business 
Administration. Competing against 2,500 utilities nationwide, CPS won 
this honor for its proven record of reaching out to and including small 
business in its contracting operation.
  CPS has made the participation of small and historically 
disadvantaged businesses a central tenet of its operating policy. CPS 
conducted numerous seminars and individual interviews to explain the 
purchasing process and identify potential obstacles. By listening to 
the target audience--small, minority and women-owned businesses--CPS 
learned what was needed to make its outreach efforts most productive. 
Among other actions taken to increase subcontracting opportunities, CPS 
subdivided larger contracts into smaller ones, eliminated bonding, 
except in high risk areas, implemented longer contract terms in certain 
cases to allow small businesses the chance to amortize their capital 
costs, significantly reduced and sometimes eliminated insurance 
requirements, facilitated meetings with CPS personnel to foster 
communication, expanded the use of target businesses in professional 
contracting, lowered the subcontracting requirements for prime 
contractors to submit a plan for the use of small businesses from 
$500,000 to $100,000, and waived contract requirements on low-risk jobs 
under $50,000.
  CPS has been a leader in developing programs for small business. For 
example, in July 1998, CPS launched the first Mentoring/Protege year-
long program for small, minority and women-owned businesses. The goal 
of this program is to enhance business skills for start-up businesses 
and to assist in the development of firms in operation from 4 to 7 
years. In 1999, CPS joined with the city of San Antonio and other local 
governments to establish the South Central Texas Regional Certification 
Agency to centralize, and thereby simplify, the process for 
certification as a small, disadvantaged, or woman-owned business. CPS 
has also found success in its one-stop Supplier Diversity Program, 
which now has 3,800 certified vendors.
  CPS works with local chambers of commerce to increase local and small 
business participation in contract bidding. Through educational 
programs and one-on-one meetings, the utility has been able to identify 
potential business partners. As a result, millions of dollars in 
contract awards have gone to businesses owned by women, Hispanics, and 
African-Americans.
  The SBA's Eisenhower Award is a great tribute to the years of hard 
work by CPS leadership and its small business team. I welcome the CPS 
Chairman of the Board, Clayton Gay, and the Director of Purchasing, 
Contracts and Small Business Development, Fred Vallasenor, to 
Washington, and I congratulate CPS General Manager and CEO Jamie 
Rochelle for her leadership and vision. As you accept this award, I 
hope that it will be for you and the company an inspiration to continue 
your leadership in small and minority business contracting. You and all 
of CPS have made us proud.

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